Page 21 - Florida Sentinel 5-24-19

Health
You're Dropping The Ball On Life
Can you think of more than a few times when you came to work with a hang- over, missed deadlines, or got behind on schoolwork because of your drinking? When your alcohol use, in- cluding being sick from drinking, often prevents you from keeping up with
responsibilities at home, work, or school, it's a problem.
You Crave Alcohol
There are times when you want a drink so badly, you can't think about anything else until you get one. That strong need or urge can be trig- gered by people, places, things, or times of day that remind you of drink- ing. Certain emotions or
physical sensations can also trigger a craving. When you have a drinking problem, your brain reacts to these triggers differently than a social drinker's does.
Check Yourself
Are you wondering whether your drinking is on the high side of normal or if it's crossed the line into a problem? Think back on the past year. If any of the fol- lowing scenarios seem familar, it might be time to make some changes.
You Give Up Other Activities
What is it that you do for fun, besides drink alcohol? Think about the activities you used to enjoy, the issues that were im- portant to you, and the ways you used to spend your free time. Has drinking edged those things out of your life, or prevented you from doing them?
Your Tolerance Has Gone Up
"The usual" doesn't have as much of an effect on you any- more. You need to drink much more than before to get the buzz you want. Your brain adapts to alcohol over time and can become less sensitive to its effects.
You Drink More Than Planned
You've had times when you ended up drinking more than you thought you would, or for longer than you were going to. It may not seem like a big deal if it only hap- pens once in a while, but that shows you have trouble controlling your- self while drinking. And it's an early warning sign.
You Spend A Lot Of Time On Drinking
We're not talking about just the time with a glass (or can, or bottle) in your hand. There's also getting the alcohol, feeling sick after you drink, and recovering from the ef- fects later. Keep track of all your ac- tivities in a daily diary or schedule planner for a few weeks, and take an honest look at how it adds up.
FRIDAY, MAY 24, 2019 FLORIDA SENTINEL BULLETIN PUBLISHED EVERY TUESDAY AND FRIDAY PAGE 9-B